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A transpacific flight operated by United Airlines was cut short: the long-haul flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Beijing (PEK) returned to its departure point less than two hours after takeoff.
According to a post on the FSX Aviation Facebook page, the Boeing 777-200 (registration N796UA) experienced an engine issue shortly after departure. The crew reportedly shut down the right engine as a safety precaution and then flew the aircraft back to the departure airport without further incident.
Public tracking data confirms the return to SFO. A tracking page shows N796UA – a B772 – departing from San Francisco and landing back there approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes later.
Why turning back is not alarming in itself
A long-haul twin-engine jet like the 777 is designed to fly on a single engine. When an engine shows signs of trouble, standard procedure involves shutting it down, stabilizing the aircraft, and selecting the most suitable airport. Immediately after takeoff, the plane is still close to SFO, which has all the necessary emergency equipment available. Returning is therefore the logical decision. If necessary, the crew will dump some fuel to avoid exceeding the maximum landing weight.
For passengers, the main consequence is a lost day: disembarking, waiting, and then being rebooked on another aircraft or rescheduled for a different day.
Another recent incident: Delta and Air Canada in Los Angeles
The day before yesterday, around 10:30 a.m., a Delta Airbus A350 bound for Tokyo-Haneda was taxiing toward the runway when its left wing struck an Air Canada aircraft being towed near a gate. According to the FAA, the Delta aircraft’s wingtip hit the horizontal stabilizer of Air Canada Flight 785, a Boeing 777. The A350 was carrying 275 passengers and 15 crew members; no injuries were reported. Air Canada stated that its aircraft, which had arrived from Toronto, would be taken out of service for inspection and repairs.